General Membership Meeting - October 2024

Art League of Fort Bend

General Meeting Minutes

 October 19,2024

1.     Call to Order -- Linda Pietz called the meeting to order at 10:03 am.

2.     Attendance – There were no new members present.

3.     Approval of previous Meeting Minutes – Bobbie Davis moved to approve the Meeting Minutes from the August, 24, 2024 and September 23, 2024 ALFB General Meetings. The motion was seconded and carried.

4.     Financial Report – The Financial Report was presented as follows:

 BALANCES

Checking $28,212
Savings   6,048
Emergency Savings (CDs)   20,384
PayPal 8,015

TOTAL $62,659

Profit/(Loss)

SEPTEMBER $2,164
Year-to-Date $15,849

While somewhat low, Gallery sales for September were in line with seasonal expectations, and three artists experienced sales at healthy prices.

Financial results for Preview Night, as follows:

PREVIEW NIGHT

Sales* $518
Expenses $655
Profit/(Loss) ($137)

*Sales included 38 entry fees, ALFB’s percentage of Gallery/Gift Shop sales and 1 new membership.

Don Golden moved to accept the Financial Report; Bobbie Davis seconded the motion and it carried.

5.     New Business

New Life Member – Linda Pietz noted that ALFB has a member – Linda Nicodemus – who has met the requirements set forth in the Bylaws for being designated a Life Member of the League. Don Golden moved that Life Member status be conferred on Linda Nicodemus. Debbie Rodriguez seconded the motion and it passed.

Thank you/recognition of Wanda Kolkhorst –Linda Pietz recognized Wanda Kolkhorst’s work on the League’s official repository of its past and ongoing presence in the art community. She has contributed much time and energy as well as her own personal resources to maintain this scrapbook. Linda urged members to take a look at her work and thank her when they see her.

Resignation of Anne Hallman-Perez/Replacement by Diana Miller – Linda Pietz announced that Anne Hallman-Perez resigned her position as Membership Director and that Diana Miller had been selected as her replacement. Diana is a past president of the League and a long-time member. The announcement of her position was met with applause.

FBAC rename – Linda Pietz mentioned that some thought had been given to renaming to Fort Bend Art Center to avoid confusion that we are a place to buy art supplies. It was clarified that the idea was more in the conceptual stages and focused on branding the Art League’s facilities as a destination similar to other well-known gallery and studio attractions.

Escher Room move/new studio space – Linda Pietz announced that the Escher Room is being moved to the rear of the Third St. location and the room where it was previously located is being converted into studio space that will be managed by Debbie Rose as Studio Manager.

Website Launch – Bobbie Davis and Diane Whitmarsh gave a status report on the launch of the new ALFB website. While the new site went live earlier this week, work is still in process and Bobbie and Diane are meeting frequently with Travis Lairson on additions to the website. Anyone with issues should alert one of them and they will add it to the list of things they are working on.  Each board member will have time with Travis to sort through changes they would like to see. Setting up the website for online voting in the upcoming elections will be a priority, as well as getting the workshops listed. Once everything is up and running, training will be provided for everyone on navigating the website.

There was also a discussion about the upcoming field trip to Sawyer Yards on November 9. A flyer was distributed with all of the details and it will be posted on the website as well. The sign-up deadline is October 31.

The next Education Committee meeting is on November 8 at 1 pm and all are welcome.

Gift Shop lock box -- Don Golden reported that the lock box at the Gift Shop back door has failed and a warranty replacement has been ordered. Until it is in place, the key will be in the Gallery drawer.

Team Up management – Don Golden reminded Members when entering their shifts into the Team Up system to insert a prefix S, N, or T before their name. S indicates you are sales savvy. N means not so much. T means you are in training. There needs to be one person who is an S on each shift. When signing up for your shift, please find a slot where you can best contribute.

Preview Night and Fall Show recap –Debbie Rodriguez reported that these events were a success with a few problems that need to be addressed. She thanked all of the volunteers who dedicated their time to preparing for the show and taking it down.

Newsletter editor – Gail Dentler was introduced as the new editor of the ALFB Newsletter. An informal poll was taken regarding the frequency Members would like to see the newsletter come out and most seemed to prefer monthly.

6.     Unfinished Business

Elections– Kathy Golden, Chair of the Nominations Committee, presented the candidate slate and reviewed the election schedule.

Running for President are Jim Fuchs and Linda Pietz, the current incumbent.

Running for Membership is Diana Miller, the current incumbent.

Running for Treasurer is Karen Gehse, the current incumbent.

Running for Gallery Director is Fereshteh Solati.

Running for Education Director is Bobbie Davis, the current incumbent.

Kathy asked if there were any nominations from the floor. There being none, she invited the individuals running for contested positions to make a 3-minute presentation of their bio, their qualifications and their vision for the League.

Linda Pietz and Jim Fuchs each made their presentations to the Members present and their presentations will be posted to the website and distributed by email to Members prior to the elections.

Online voting will take place November 2-16, and results will be announced at the November 18 General Meeting.

7.     Committee Reports

a.     Art Shows/Major Workshops

Debbie Rodriguez reported there are 2 people on the wait list for the second Elizabeth St. Hilaire workshop.

In February there will be a two-day workshop on Traditional Rug Hooking for Beginners offered by Nola Heidbreder.

b.     Classes/Education

Bobbie Davis announced that for the Spring Course Catalogue there will be new forms for instructors to complete that will generate content directly to the website. Linda Pietz added that another positive feature is that going forward if an instructor wants to offer a class online they can be recorded and the course archived for students to take later from anywhere, with both the instructor and the League earning money.

c.     Community Displays/Development

Our HOT Tax Grant award is scheduled to go before City Council for approval.

A new community is being built called Indigo and they have indicated an interest in hanging our Members’ art in their community center. There are upcoming change outs at the Sugar Land Airport and the George Library that will be confirmed by email.

d.     Events

No report

e.     Gallery

Last rotation of the year is up and complete. A new committee is in place to vet potential new Gallery Members. Let Linda Pietz know if you know anyone who is interested and she will pass that on to the committee.

f.      Gift Shop

Fereshteh Solati reminded new members they are welcome to display items in the Gift Shop that are priced under $150. There is an obligation to work one day a month, and anything you display must be original artwork, not something manufactured elsewhere by someone else.

g.     Membership

No report

h.     Publicity/Advertising/Marketing

No report

8.     Miscellaneous

Rosenberg events -- Kathy Golden reported on a number of Rosenberg activities:

• Safety Issues: Someone has been observed setting fires in the downtown area. A male wearing dark clothes and a light colored back pack has lit 12 dumpster fires and attempted to set a building fire – please be aware. In another case, an unhoused female has been soliciting money from local merchants. We are advised not to donate.

• The Boogeyman Bash is October 31, 5-8 pm. Avenue G will be closed from Third St. to Fourth St.

• The Fall Festival is November 9, 2-6 pm, with live music, a chili cook-off and petting zoo. More information about how you can participate is on the City website.

• Harry Potter Day, hosted by Anna’s Baker, is on November 16, 11 am – 5 pm. The Gallery will be a Scavenger Hunt stop and the Gift Shop will be a participant with a sandwich board and window sign. When guests find the scavenger hunt item, our shift workers sign their card for a raffle drawing. We can wear costumes and/or decorate our space. We are not offering the 10%C discount that some other merchants are.

• Christmas in Rosenberg/City Event on December 7 will have lots of activities and streets will be closed.

• Christmas Nights/Rosenberg Arts Alliance event on December 12 and 19 will have lost of activities. The Art Center will be open both of these nights.

9.     Next General Meeting – November 18, 2024

10.  Adjournment – Don Golden moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:30 am. The motion was seconded and carried.

Respectfully Submitted,

Christine LeLaurin Ratcliff

ALFB Board Secretary